While heading to the studio, Ranbir happened to spot Prachi at an adjacent café. Just as he was ready to call out to her, he saw that a man was sitting too close to her. The man's hand was casually resting on Prachi's arm, and she laughed at something he said, giving the impression that she knew him well.

A strange sensation tightened in Ranbir's chest. With his hands squeezed automatically, he stood motionless. He looked to Aryan, who was beside him, and saw how Ranbir responded.

"Prachi ke saath vah ladaka kaun hai(Who's that guy with Prachi?)" Ranbir asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

Aryan glanced at the café and then back at Ranbir. "Yakeen nahi hai, lekin ve kaafi kareeb lagate hain, huh(Not sure, but they seem pretty close, huh?)"

With a nod, Ranbir's jaw tensed. The man's hand seemed too intimate for him to handle as he watched slide down Prachi's arm. Though he wasn't sure why, the sight made his blood boil.

"Kya aapako lagata hai ki vah... usake saath hai(Do you think she's... with him?)" Ranbir asked, unable to hide the jealousy in his voice.

Aryan raised an eyebrow. "Yah aapake liye kyon maayane rakhata hai? Ve sirf dost ho sakate hain(Why does it matter to you? They could just be friends.)"

Ranbir remained silent. Rather, he moved nearer to the café, desiring a closer inspection and to hear their conversation.

Prachi was giggling, her face radiating happiness. She gave him a casual smack on the arm and exclaimed, "You're such a tease, Akash!" Akash. That's his name, then.

Akash laughed and his eyes gleamed. "Prachi,mujhe hamaari baatacheet yaad aa gaye. Aap apane gaayan mein bahut vyast hain(I missed our chats. You've been so busy with your singing.)"

Ranbir felt her heart sink. Of course, she had other people in her life. And why wouldn't she? However, it hurt more than what he believed to see her with someone else, someone who could make her smile like that.

As he was ready to look away, Akash reached over to tuck a stray hair behind Prachi's ear. Ranbir's fists clenched tighter.

"Mujhe tumhe kabhi jaane nahi dena chaahiye(I should never let you go)," Akash said softly, looking into Prachi's eyes.

(If you guys are wondering if this was Prachi's ex-boyfriend, it is not him)

Prachi blushed, lowering her gaze. "Akash,aap jaanate hain ki hamane is baare mein baat ki thi(you know we talked about this...)"

An urge to be possessive shot through Ranbir. With Aryan following closely behind, he stormed into the café before he could stop himself.

"Ranbir, wait—" Aryan tried to grab his arm, but Ranbir was already at Prachi's table.

Prachi looked up, surprised. "Ranbir! Aap yahaan par kya kar rahe hain(What are you doing here?)"

Ranbir forced a smile. "Bas paas se ja raha. Yah kaun hai(Just passing by. Who's this?)"

Akash extended a hand, oblivious to Ranbir's simmering anger. "Akash. Prachi aur main bahut peechhe chala jaata hoon(Akash. Prachi and I go way back.)"

Ranbir ignored the hand, his eyes locked on Prachi. "Mujhe nahi pata tha ki aap kisi se mil rahe hain(I didn't know you were meeting someone.)"

Prachi frowned, sensing the tension. "Akash puraana dost hai. Hum bas pakad rahe the(Akash's an old friend. We were just catching up.)"

Akash glanced between Ranbir and Prachi, a smirk forming on his lips. "Aap mashahoor gaayak Ranbir honge. Prachi tumhaare baare mein bahut baat karati hai(You must be Ranbir, the famous singer. Prachi talks about you a lot.)"

"Does she now?" Ranbir said, his voice edged with sarcasm. "Ajeeb baat hai, usane kabhi aapaka jikr nahi kiya(Funny, she never mentioned you.)"

Aryan stepped in, trying to diffuse the situation. "Are, hum sab baithakar coffee kyon nahi peete?Kisi naatak ki jaroorat nahi(Hey, why don't we all sit down and have a coffee? No need for any drama.)"

Ranbir shook his head. "Mujhe studio jaana hai. Prachi, kya main tumase ek second ke liye baat kar sakata hoon(I have to get to the studio. Prachi, can I talk to you for a second?)"

Prachi looked at Akash apologetically. "Kshama karen, Akash. Main abhi wapas aaoonga(Excuse me, Akash. I'll be right back.)"

She followed Ranbir outside, where he turned to her, frustration evident in his eyes. "Vah tumhaare lite kaun hai, Prachi(Who is he to you, Prachi?)"

Prachi was taken aback by the intensity in his voice. "Vah sirf ek puraana dost hai, Ranbir. Tum itane dukhi kyoon ho(He's just an old friend, Ranbir. Why are you so upset?)"

Ranbir ran a hand through his hair, trying to calm down. "Main bas... mujhe tumhe usake saath dekhana pasand nahi hai(I just... I don't like seeing you with him.)"

Prachi crossed her arms, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "Kyon? Kya aap jealous hain, Mr Rockstar(Why? Are you jealous, Mr. Rockstar?)"

Ranbir looked away, unable to meet her gaze. "Mujhe nahi pata. Shaayad. Yah bas... mujhe yah pasand nahi hai(I don't know. Maybe. It's just... I don't like it.)"

Prachi's expression softened. "Ranbir,aapako chinta karane ki zaroorat nahi hai. Akash sirf ek dost hai. Tum hi vah ho jisake saath main apana adhikansh samay bitaata hoon(you don't have to worry. Akash is just a friend. You're the one I spend most of my time with.)"

Ranbir looked back at her, his heart pounding. "Mujhe ab tak is baat ka ehasaas nahi hua ki aap mere liye kitana maayane rakhate hain. Main tumhe khona nahi chaahata(I didn't realize how much you mean to me until now. I don't want to lose you.)"

Prachi stepped closer, her eyes searching his. "Tum mujhe khone vaale nahi ho, Ranbir. Main yahaan hoon, aur mujhe aapaki bhi paravaah hai(You're not going to lose me, Ranbir. I'm here, and I care about you too.)"

Ranbir sighed, relief washing over him. "Mujhe lagata hai main bas dara hua hoon(I guess I'm just scared.)"

Prachi smiled, placing a hand on his arm. "Tumhe hona jaroori nahi hai. Chalo ek samay mein ek kadam uthaen, theek hai(You don't have to be. Let's take it one step at a time, okay?)"

Ranbir nodded, a small smile forming on his lips. "Okay. Thanks, Prachi."

Aryan, who had been watching from a distance, shook his head with a smile. "Tum dono kuch aur ho(You two are something else.)"

Ranbir laughed, the tension finally easing. "Haan, hum hain(Yeah, we are.)"

Ranbir had no way to get Prachi and Akash out of his mind. It was an ongoing reminder of how fragile his connection with Prachi felt, and it tore at him throughout the day. His frustration had boiled over by the evening. He had to speak with her in order to finally resolve the problem.

His mind fighting between perplexity and anger, he stormed straight to her apartment. A smile shot across Prachi's face as she opened the door, but it vanished as soon as she saw the storm clouds forming in his eyes.

"Ranbir? What's wrong?" she asked, concern evident in her voice

Without waiting for an invitation, Ranbir pushed past her and into the living room. "Hamen baat karane ki jaroorat hai(We need to talk)," he said, his voice tight with suppressed emotion.

Prachi closed the door and followed him. "Okay. Kya chal raha hai(What's going on?)"

Ranbir turned to face her, his eyes blazing. "Kya chal raha hai? Sach mein, Prachi? Aap aaj ke baad mujhase yah pooch rahe hain(What's going on? Really, Prachi? You're asking me that after today?)"

Prachi frowned, genuinely confused. "Aapaka kya matalab hai? Kya ye Akash ke baare mein hai(What do you mean? Is this about Akash?)"

Ranbir's jaw clenched. "Haan, yah Akash ke baare mein hai! Vah aapake liye kaun hai? Aur mujhe vah sirf ek dost bakwas mat do. Aap usake kaafi kareeb lag rahe the(Yes, it's about Akash! Who is he to you? And don't give me that 'just a friend' crap. You seemed pretty close to him.)"

Prachi sighed, frustration creeping into her voice. "Maine tumase kaha tha, Ranbir. Vah ek puraana dost hai. Tum itane dukhi kyoon ho(I told you, Ranbir. He's an old friend. Why are you so upset?)"

"Kyonki tumhe usake saath dekhakar mujhe kuch ehasaas hua(Because seeing you with him made me realize something)," Ranbir said, his voice trembling with anger and pain. "Mujhe ehasaas hua ki aap mere liye kitana important hain, aur yah mujhe bahut daraata hai(I realized how much you mean to me, and it scares the hell out of me.)"

Prachi's eyes widened. "Aap kya kah rahe hain Ranbir(What are you saying, Ranbir?)"

Ranbir took a deep breath, his fists clenched at his sides. "Main kah raha hoon ki main tumase pyaar karata hoon, Prachi! I love you, aur tumhe kisi aur ke saath dekhakar yah mujhe maarata hai(I'm saying I love you, Prachi! I love you, and it kills me to see you with someone else.)"

Prachi's heart skipped a beat. "Ranbir..."

But Ranbir wasn't done. The floodgates had opened, and he couldn't stop now. "Kya aap jaanate hain ki mere saath rahane ke liye kitani ladakiyaan mar jaengi? Kitane log mere dhyaan ke liye kuch bhi denge? Lekin inamen se koi bhi mere liye maayane nahi rakhata. Keval aap hi hain jo mujhe us roop mein dekhate hain jo main vaastav mein hoon, rockstar RK nahi (Do you know how many girls would kill to be with me? How many would give anything for my attention? But none of them matter to me. You're the only one who sees me for who I really am, not RK, the rockstar.)"

Prachi stepped closer, tears welling up in her eyes. "Ranbir, I..."

He cut her off, his voice breaking. "Prachi, main tumhe khone ke baare mein soch bhi nahi sakata. Maine dhairy rakhane ki, dheere-dheere aage badhane ki koshish ki hai, lekin aaj tumhe usake saath dekhakar... isane mere andar kuch tod diya hai(I can't stand the thought of losing you, Prachi. I've tried to be patient, to take it slow, but seeing you with him today... it just broke something inside me.)"

Prachi reached out, placing a hand on his arm. "Ranbir,tum mujhe khone vaale nahi ho. Mujhe bhi aapaki paravaah hai(you're not going to lose me. I care about you too.)"

Ranbir shook his head, tears glistening in his eyes. "Kya aap? Kyonki kabhi-kabhi aisa mahasoos hota hai ki main aapake jeevan mein kai logon mein se ek hoon, aur main ise sambhaal nahi sakata(Do you? Because sometimes it feels like I'm just one of many people in your life, and I can't handle that.)"

Prachi's heart ached at the pain in his voice. "Ranbir,tum mere liye bas koi nahi ho. Tum khaas ho. Mere liye aapaka bahut mahatv hai(you're not just anyone to me. You're special. You mean so much to me.)"

Ranbir searched her eyes, looking for any sign of deception. "To phir aapane mujhe Akash ke baare mein kyon nahi bataaya? Mujhe aisa kyon pata lagaana pada(Then why didn't you tell me about Akash? Why did I have to find out like that?)"

Prachi sighed, her voice soft. "Mujhe nahi laga ki yah mahatvapoorn tha. Vah mere ateet ka hissa hai, lekin tum mere vartamaan ho, Ranbir. Tum vahi ho jisake saath main rahana chaahata hoon(I didn't think it was important. He's a part of my past, but you're my present, Ranbir. You're the one I want to be with.)"

Ranbir's anger began to ebb, replaced by a deep sadness. "Mujhe dar lag raha hai, Prachi. Main tumhe khone se, tumhaare liye paryaapt na hone se darata hoon(I'm scared, Prachi. I'm scared of losing you, of not being enough for you.)"

Prachi stepped even closer, her hand moving to cup his cheek. "Tum mere liye kaafi ho, Ranbir. I love you too, aur agar maine tumhe anyatha mahasoos karaaya to mujhe khed hai(You're more than enough for me, Ranbir. I love you too, and I'm sorry if I made you feel otherwise.)"

Ranbir closed his eyes, leaning into her touch. "Main ab aur ladana nahin chaahata, Prachi. Main keval aapake saath rahana chaahata hoon(I don't want to fight anymore, Prachi. I just want to be with you.)"

Prachi smiled through her tears. "To phir chalo ladana band karen. Aaie bas saath rahen(Then let's stop fighting. Let's just be together.)"

Ranbir pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. "I'm sorry, Prachi. Main ise aur adhik der tak rok nahi saka(I just couldn't hold it in any longer.)"

Prachi hugged him back, her heart full. "I understand, Ranbir. I'm sorry too. Let's make this work, okay?"

Ranbir nodded, a sense of peace finally settling over him. "Okay. Together."